Iona Ware-Jones-Watts

Iona Ware-Jones-Watts

Jan. 26, 1928 - March 2, 2022

RALEIGH, North Carolina - Iona Ware-Jones-Watts was born in Decatur to Jesse and Bessie Ware in 1928, the youngest of four siblings. She graduated from Millikin University in 1950. While attending Millikin, she met her husband, Jim Jones, and they were married in 1949. They had two children together before Jim passed away in 1980. She was a widow for 16 years before remarrying at age 70.

After graduating from Millikin, Iona worked at Mueller Company as a secretary until her first child was born. In 1967, she developed an extended children's program at her church. Not long after, she designed the Self Start program, a preschool for limited income families. This grew into two preschools and she started a daycare to benefit high school mothers with infants. Next, she created the child care program at Richland Community College (RCC), where she worked until retiring in 1995.

While at RCC, she received many awards, including ABWA Monarch Award (1990), ABWA Woman of the Year Award (1992), RCC Excellence in Education Teacher of the Year (1992-1993), and RCC Recognition and Grateful Appreciation of Dedication and Loyal years of service to RCC (1978-1994).

She served in many community activities including the PTA, Emmanuel Methodist church board, and on the board of directors for Varley Infant Care Center, Parenting Plus, Parents Anonymous, and CHELP. She was also involved in the Macon County Cooperative Extension, Decatur Public Schools Area Vocational Center Child Care Advisory Council, Head Start's Career Development Committee, United Way of Macon County Council of Community Services Child and Family Division, and the Day Care Directors group.

After retiring from RCC, Iona enjoyed world travel. In her later years she lived in Raleigh, NC. She died at age 94, attended by her family.

She is survived by her children: Michael and Karen; and grandchildren: Jessie, Nathaniel, Gracie and Emily.